Haymaker Farmers Market Looking for New Manager

This season will likely be bittersweet for vendors and members of Kent's Haymaker Farmers Market.

Long-time market manager Fritz Seefeldt is stepping down from management duties of the weekly summer market. Seefeldt first told members of the market's board of directors last spring about his plans to retire, but the market made the official announcement this week.

“I think that is when he kind of started hinting," said Kristen Pool, a member of the market board. "I think he felt he needed to break it to us slowly.  He’s always made it clear he’s going to remain in an advisory position until everything is transitioned.”

Seefeldt, who manages the market strictly as a volunteer, helped found it almost 20 years ago. He said in prepared remarks that he is committed to serving both as an adviser and on the market board in the future.

"The market has been an integral part of our lives for so many years, and I see this transition as something healthy for the market and for the Kent community,” Seefeldt said.

"I don’t feel like we’re losing Fritz because I know we’re going to see him at the market most every week," Pool said. "He’s still going to be a person that a lot of us turn to for advice."

While Fritz's departure may be bitter for some, the sweet part is yet to come. Many believe hiring a paid market manager will allow the market to expand on the already great foundation Seefeldt helped establish.

The market board is looking for a manager to handle the daily duties involved with running the 25-week farmer's market. The duties include everything from posting signs Saturday morning, booking musicians, finding vendors and assigning market stalls and promoting the market to making sure it complies with state and local regulations. A full job description is available on the market's website.

The part-time, contract position will pay $5,000 per season. People interested in applying can send a resume and cover letter to 9519 Nichols Rd., Windham, OH 44288, or you can e-mail it to blackdogacres@gmail.com. Applications must be in by March 15.

“We've got big shoes to fill,” board member Cary James said. “The comfortable ambiance of the market has been developed by a lot of hard work on Fritz's part.”

The market has enjoyed steady growth in recent years bolstered by initiatives to shop and eat locally grown and organic foods.

Pool believes hiring a paid manager will help the market grow even more in seasons to come.

“Really it’s been terrific of Fritz to do it for no compensation," she said. "But I think really the direction that a lot of farm markets are taking is to have a paid person do it because of the amount of work. It’s a serious business. Having a person who’s compensated really seemed like a smart step for us to take.”

Rick Hawksley, who helped found the market in 1992 with Fritz and his wife, Jo Anne Jones, said he sees a transition to a paid manager as a positive change for the market.

“There are a lot of people in our community that are very grateful for the tireless, non-stop sacrificial efforts that he and Jo Anne and their family have made," Hawksley said. "They’ve built a hippie idea into a community institution that is just wonderful.

“I think that there’s still a lot of potential … that there’s a lot of things that the market can do and it takes someone that can put a lot of time into it to make it happen," Hawksley said. "Obviously they’ve got to find the right person.”